www.mrs.org/publications/bulletin MATERIAL MATTERS Future Global Energy Problem 1:Creating a “Sputnik'”Effect The top charge to keep on my list for President Bush should be to inspire the Prosperity:The next generation of U.S.scientists and engineers.Currently,despite all we have done in the past decade,we are not Terawatt Challenge spurring young Americans to go into the physical sciences and engineering.This problem is getting worse as the years go by.Today,the number of U.S.citizens Richard E.Smalley getting degrees in physical science and engineering alone is low-it is at best sta- tic,and dropping off.My latest data is for the year 2002(see Figure 1);the 2003 and The following article is an edited transcript based on the Symposium X-Frontiers of 2004 numbers will be a bit lower.The Materials Research presentation given by Richard E.Smalley of Rice University on December 2, number of Americans getting degrees in 2004,at the Materials Research Society Fall Meeting in Boston. all fields of sciences and engineering, excluding psychology and social sciences Recently,I watched a humorous news and remarked that he had a personal con- (the increase coming mostly from the life segment on CNN about the U.S.election, nection to this painting.The subject of the sciences),is about a factor of two higher specifically about the Blue States and Red work is a lone horseman riding western but is still static and tapering off. States.In this piece,CNN correspondent saddle up over a difficult hill,probably Another bleak indicator is the waning Jeanne Moos was touring New York City, someplace out in Texas.The horseman is influence of the United States on the scien- interviewing people in downtown actually a Methodist circuit rider,and the tific education of students from other Manhattan.Many of them felt rather dis- whole notion is that this rider is on a mis- countries.For a number of decades,the enfranchised from the rest of the country, sion to go out and do good work,specifi- United States,particularly after World War while some actually felt much more affini- cally,to spread religion and belief in God II,was the premier place for the advance ty for Canada than for what the United across the early Western frontier ment of physical science and engineering States seems to have become for them. The more I think about that experience Now,that is no longer true.In fact,in After the interviews,up popped this map and the significance of that painting,the today's world,Europe and Asia,having of the North American continent,with all more I believe that the concept of "mis- recovered from their wars,have dramati- the Blue States in blue,all the Red States in sion"is at the core of what really does cally enhanced their education experience red,and all of Canada in blue.Written motivate our president.Now that we are and are strongly pushing the physical sci- across the top of Canada was"The United embarking on four more years of the Bush ences and engineering,along with the life States of Canada"and written across the administration,I have also been ponder- sciences.This trend has been remarkable. red section of the United States,it said, ing just what implications that mission Back in the early 1980s,some of the first "Jesusland."It was funny,of course,but it might have for us.With a Republican Asian students I had in my group-very also had a serious side.I have just finished majority in both the House and the Senate, bright students from China-were among reading a book called The Faith of George and four years to move his agenda for- the first who came over during the Carter W.Bush by Stephen Mansfield(Strang ward,President Bush has an excellent administration.In the decades that fol- Communications/Penguin Group,New opportunity to make his mark on history. lowed,many young Asians who received York,2003).I found it to be an excellent their degrees here stayed here in the book,and I recommend it for those who want to gain some insight into why the "At some point,almost certainly United States.Now,however,a great majority of bright,young,highly motivat- folks in Jesusland voted for this man,and within this decade,we will peak ed Asian scientists are returning to their to learn about what motivates him. in the amount of oil that is own countries.More and more,new stu- dents are not coming over here at all for "A Charge to Keep” produced worldwide." their education because it is not necessari- Relative to that,about a year ago i was ly true anymore that to be on the frontier in the Oval Office,along with a number Of course,I have my own concept of of science and engineering,to be in the of other people,when President Bush what the president's mission should be cutting-edge research groups,one has to signed the nanotechnology bill.Most of my own list of "charges to keep"for this come to the United States.Asian citizens us expected the event to be something administration.There are three core prob- now dominate new PhD production in like a five-minute photo-op-sign the lems that I think the president ought to the sciences and engineering worldwide. bill,shake hands,and leave.Instead,the address,all of which are connected with They are bright,creative,and extremely door closed and for about half an hour and impinge on the major issue of energy hard-working.As current trends contin- the president chatted with us.So here prosperity:inspiring the next generation of ue,they are the future. was my great opportunity to talk to the U.S.scientists and engineers,developing So the handwriting is on the wall.We president,and I could not think of a thing replacements for the dwindling fossil fuel are entering a world where the vast to say!But something else noteworthy resources that have provided a majority of majority of young Americans no longer happened.As Mr.Bush walked around our energy in the past,and finding a solu- go into the physical sciences and engi- the Oval Office,pointing out items of tion to global warming.I believe that tak- neering.This is a major concern.In interest,he focused on a painting by ing on these challenges would be a deeply October 1957,the launch of the Russian W.H.D.Koerner,titled A Charge to Keep, moral and wise course of action Sputnik satellite was a wake-up call for 412 MRS BULLETIN·VOLUME30◆JUNE2005MATERIAL MATTERS 412 MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 30 • JUNE 2005 Recently, I watched a humorous news segment on CNN about the U.S. election, specifically about the Blue States and Red States. In this piece, CNN correspondent Jeanne Moos was touring New York City, interviewing people in downtown Manhattan. Many of them felt rather dis￾enfranchised from the rest of the country, while some actually felt much more affini￾ty for Canada than for what the United States seems to have become for them. After the interviews, up popped this map of the North American continent, with all the Blue States in blue, all the Red States in red, and all of Canada in blue. Written across the top of Canada was “The United States of Canada” and written across the red section of the United States, it said, “Jesusland.” It was funny, of course, but it also had a serious side. I have just finished reading a book called The Faith of George W. Bush by Stephen Mansfield (Strang Communications/Penguin Group, New York, 2003). I found it to be an excellent book, and I recommend it for those who want to gain some insight into why the folks in Jesusland voted for this man, and to learn about what motivates him. “A Charge to Keep” Relative to that, about a year ago I was in the Oval Office, along with a number of other people, when President Bush signed the nanotechnology bill. Most of us expected the event to be something like a five-minute photo-op—sign the bill, shake hands, and leave. Instead, the door closed and for about half an hour the president chatted with us. So here was my great opportunity to talk to the president, and I could not think of a thing to say! But something else noteworthy happened. As Mr. Bush walked around the Oval Office, pointing out items of interest, he focused on a painting by W.H.D. Koerner, titled A Charge to Keep, and remarked that he had a personal con￾nection to this painting. The subject of the work is a lone horseman riding western saddle up over a difficult hill, probably someplace out in Texas. The horseman is actually a Methodist circuit rider, and the whole notion is that this rider is on a mis￾sion to go out and do good work, specifi￾cally, to spread religion and belief in God across the early Western frontier. The more I think about that experience and the significance of that painting, the more I believe that the concept of “mis￾sion” is at the core of what really does motivate our president. Now that we are embarking on four more years of the Bush administration, I have also been ponder￾ing just what implications that mission might have for us. With a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate, and four years to move his agenda for￾ward, President Bush has an excellent opportunity to make his mark on history. Of course, I have my own concept of what the president’s mission should be— my own list of “charges to keep” for this administration. There are three core prob￾lems that I think the president ought to address, all of which are connected with and impinge on the major issue of energy prosperity: inspiring the next generation of U.S. scientists and engineers, developing replacements for the dwindling fossil fuel resources that have provided a majority of our energy in the past, and finding a solu￾tion to global warming. I believe that tak￾ing on these challenges would be a deeply moral and wise course of action. Problem 1: Creating a “Sputnik” Effect The top charge to keep on my list for President Bush should be to inspire the next generation of U.S. scientists and engineers. Currently, despite all we have done in the past decade, we are not spurring young Americans to go into the physical sciences and engineering. This problem is getting worse as the years go by. Today, the number of U.S. citizens getting degrees in physical science and engineering alone is low—it is at best sta￾tic, and dropping off. My latest data is for the year 2002 (see Figure 1); the 2003 and 2004 numbers will be a bit lower. The number of Americans getting degrees in all fields of sciences and engineering, excluding psychology and social sciences (the increase coming mostly from the life sciences), is about a factor of two higher but is still static and tapering off. Another bleak indicator is the waning influence of the United States on the scien￾tific education of students from other countries. For a number of decades, the United States, particularly after World War II, was the premier place for the advance￾ment of physical science and engineering. Now, that is no longer true. In fact, in today’s world, Europe and Asia, having recovered from their wars, have dramati￾cally enhanced their education experience and are strongly pushing the physical sci￾ences and engineering, along with the life sciences. This trend has been remarkable. Back in the early 1980s, some of the first Asian students I had in my group—very bright students from China—were among the first who came over during the Carter administration. In the decades that fol￾lowed, many young Asians who received their degrees here stayed here in the United States. Now, however, a great majority of bright, young, highly motivat￾ed Asian scientists are returning to their own countries. More and more, new stu￾dents are not coming over here at all for their education because it is not necessari￾ly true anymore that to be on the frontier of science and engineering, to be in the cutting-edge research groups, one has to come to the United States. Asian citizens now dominate new PhD production in the sciences and engineering worldwide. They are bright, creative, and extremely hard-working. As current trends contin￾ue, they are the future. So the handwriting is on the wall. We are entering a world where the vast majority of young Americans no longer go into the physical sciences and engi￾neering. This is a major concern. In October 1957, the launch of the Russian Sputnik satellite was a wake-up call for Future Global Energy Prosperity: The Terawatt Challenge Richard E. Smalley The following article is an edited transcript based on the Symposium X—Frontiers of Materials Research presentation given by Richard E. Smalley of Rice University on December 2, 2004, at the Materials Research Society Fall Meeting in Boston. “At some point, almost certainly within this decade, we will peak in the amount of oil that is produced worldwide.” www.mrs.org/publications/bulletin